Wellness in the lap of nature
The morning breeze that gently caresses the skin is still a little chilly as the eyes take in the vast expanse of nature and discover giraffe, zebra and even rhino in the plain. Trees have donned the first tender green of spring, adding striking features to a colour scheme that is otherwise typical of the African savannah. The utter tranquillity is a blessing after the constant hustle and bustle of city life.
This is a small paradise, created by the Stritter family in the midst of the Auas Mountains just 30 km south of Windhoek. "It is quite impossible to describe Gocheganas", Udo Stritter maintains. "You have to experience the atmosphere for yourself". He is in charge of the family business which he established together with his son Ingo in 2004.
The blend of nature and wellness attracts vi-sitors from Namibia and abroad. The Wellness Village is situated at 1800 metres above sea le-vel on a mountain ridge in a 6000 hectare private nature reserve. It consists of 16 thatched chalets, all named after semi-precious stones. "When we built the Village we tried to use as much as possible of the materials around us, especially the natural stone", Stritter explains. With sand from the vicinity his son developed a special plaster which was applied to all interior and exterior walls.
A lot of wood was used for the interior de-coration and gives the generously proportioned chalets a warm atmosphere. Namibia arts and crafts, such as the sand pictures by Anneli Ketterer, complement the architecture and décor of the rooms. Large windows and a terrace afford uninterrupted views of the nature reserve and convey a feeling of living in the midst of the African bush.
Guests who come to Gocheganas are looking for seclusion in nature - to take a break from everyday life or for complete relaxation after an eventful holiday in Namibia. Various animal species can be watched during a game drive, and there is much to learn about fauna and flora and the geology of this interesting area. Rock ledges in the mountains of Gocheganas consist of quartz which has resisted the forces of erosion, and folds with layers of quartz can be seen in various places. Mica slate is the predominant rock type in the area.
The name Gocheganas also has its origins in nature. In the Damara language it means 'place of camel thorn trees and an abundance of candle thorns'. Acacia species which typically thrive in the savannah of the central plateau, where Gocheganas is situated, include mountain thorn (Acacia hereroensis), candle thorn (Acacia hebecladis) and black thorn (Acacia mellifera). Camel thorns (Acacia erioloba) grow along the river courses.
Gocheganas used to be a dairy farm until 1997 when the owner, Mrs Bonadei, sold one half to the Stritter family and the other half to the Ohlthaver and List group of companies. At that time there was hardly any game on the farm. Game animals were gradually reintroduced when Gocheganas became a private nature reserve. By now the reserve boasts 25 different species. "We are particularly proud of our white rhinos", says Uwe Stritter. "The original group of five animals has already grown to 13, and number 14 will be born soon". Rhinos eat some 37 kilograms of grass per day, and obviously they feel very much at ease in Gocheganas. "Depending on whether the offspring is male or female we have to sell a rhino every now and then because the reserve is too small for several bulls", Stritter explains.
Gocheganas has no shortage of water and supports more than 1600 larger animals: steenbok, duiker, klipspringer, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, eland antelope, plains zebra, springbok, oryx, kudu, giraffe, waterbuck, warthog, mountain zebra, cheetah, leopard, caracal and black wildebeest. Apart from seven waterholes there are also two dams on the farm. "The number of animals increases by about one third every year", says Stritter. Therefore animals are captured once a year and sold to other farms in Namibia, South Africa or Angola.
Visitors are able to experience Gocheganas' abundance of game not only on the game drives, which are conducted twice a day, but also on hiking tours or by bicycle. "The rhinos are not aggressive and always keep their distance", says Stritter. "They may snort or prick their ears, but that's it". The guided hiking tours to several waterholes in the vicinity of the lodge are very popular with guests. Qualified guides provide a lot of worthwhile information on nature. But guests are also welcome to go for extended unguided walks in the vicinity of the lodge.
No doubt the Stone Age caves which were discovered in 2002 just a few kilometres away from the lodge are another highlight. Stone artefacts and shards, verifiably around 9000 years old, were found in the caves. In order to protect the area and the Stone Age artefacts the caves may only be visited with a guide. The tour takes about 2.5 hours, including the drive there and back.
But Gocheganas is not only about glorious nature but also about the experience of being pampered in the lap of nature. The perfect combination of both makes for an experience of a lifetime.
The Wellness Village consists of four thatched round houses. There are several treatment rooms with state-of-the-art equipment, a heated indoor pool under a vaulted ceiling fit for a cathedral, a granite bath (cave sauna), Kneipp showers as well as fitness, gym and yoga facilities plus an outdoor pool affording breathtaking views.
Gocheganas offers a large variety of special wellness packages and individual treatments, including facials and body treatments, de-stress and detoxification poultices as well as consultations on personal training and dietary needs. A massage al fresco may well be a highlight for wellness lovers. At a small wellness station outside in the open the massage is administered by expert hands under the watchful eyes of giraffe or wildebeest. Another unique experience to be fondly remembered.
Day visitors are also welcome to use the wellness facilities at Gocheganas. A day charge applies.
The main building of the lodges houses a restaurant with a large terrace. The international cuisine offers a choice of two three-course set menus every day.
At high altitudes, far away from the light pollution of a city, stargazing also becomes a very special experience. Gocheganas now offers the opportunity to explore Namibia's night sky under the expert guidance of astronomer Ro-bert Johnstone, head of the Space Observation Learning Centre in Namibia (SOLNA). Born in Scotland, Johnstone lived in South Africa for many years before moving to Namibia a few years ago.
The appearance of Halley's Comet in 1986 started his love for astronomy, and his extensive knowledge on space, the stars and gala-xies is self-taught. By prior arrangement Gocheganas' guests have the opportunity to watch the sky together with Johnstone. He sets up a large telescope of 120 kilograms and guests who happen to have a Canon EOS can connect the camera to the telescope for images of the highest quality. Not only see the rings of Saturn but take pictures, too! "Namibia's night sky is among the most beautiful. There are many constellations of the southern hemisphere waiting to be discovered", Johnstone says. "This is not only due to the clear, clean air but also to the absence of light pollution. Stargazing conditions are excellent at Gocheganas".
"With this new service, of exploring galaxies and stars at Gocheganas, we want to show our visitors another fascinating side of Namibia", says Udo Stritter. His eclectic mix of nature and wellness appeals to many tourists who seek tranquillity away from the cities and at the same time like to be pampered.
This is a small paradise, created by the Stritter family in the midst of the Auas Mountains just 30 km south of Windhoek. "It is quite impossible to describe Gocheganas", Udo Stritter maintains. "You have to experience the atmosphere for yourself". He is in charge of the family business which he established together with his son Ingo in 2004.
The blend of nature and wellness attracts vi-sitors from Namibia and abroad. The Wellness Village is situated at 1800 metres above sea le-vel on a mountain ridge in a 6000 hectare private nature reserve. It consists of 16 thatched chalets, all named after semi-precious stones. "When we built the Village we tried to use as much as possible of the materials around us, especially the natural stone", Stritter explains. With sand from the vicinity his son developed a special plaster which was applied to all interior and exterior walls.
A lot of wood was used for the interior de-coration and gives the generously proportioned chalets a warm atmosphere. Namibia arts and crafts, such as the sand pictures by Anneli Ketterer, complement the architecture and décor of the rooms. Large windows and a terrace afford uninterrupted views of the nature reserve and convey a feeling of living in the midst of the African bush.
Guests who come to Gocheganas are looking for seclusion in nature - to take a break from everyday life or for complete relaxation after an eventful holiday in Namibia. Various animal species can be watched during a game drive, and there is much to learn about fauna and flora and the geology of this interesting area. Rock ledges in the mountains of Gocheganas consist of quartz which has resisted the forces of erosion, and folds with layers of quartz can be seen in various places. Mica slate is the predominant rock type in the area.
The name Gocheganas also has its origins in nature. In the Damara language it means 'place of camel thorn trees and an abundance of candle thorns'. Acacia species which typically thrive in the savannah of the central plateau, where Gocheganas is situated, include mountain thorn (Acacia hereroensis), candle thorn (Acacia hebecladis) and black thorn (Acacia mellifera). Camel thorns (Acacia erioloba) grow along the river courses.
Gocheganas used to be a dairy farm until 1997 when the owner, Mrs Bonadei, sold one half to the Stritter family and the other half to the Ohlthaver and List group of companies. At that time there was hardly any game on the farm. Game animals were gradually reintroduced when Gocheganas became a private nature reserve. By now the reserve boasts 25 different species. "We are particularly proud of our white rhinos", says Uwe Stritter. "The original group of five animals has already grown to 13, and number 14 will be born soon". Rhinos eat some 37 kilograms of grass per day, and obviously they feel very much at ease in Gocheganas. "Depending on whether the offspring is male or female we have to sell a rhino every now and then because the reserve is too small for several bulls", Stritter explains.
Gocheganas has no shortage of water and supports more than 1600 larger animals: steenbok, duiker, klipspringer, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, eland antelope, plains zebra, springbok, oryx, kudu, giraffe, waterbuck, warthog, mountain zebra, cheetah, leopard, caracal and black wildebeest. Apart from seven waterholes there are also two dams on the farm. "The number of animals increases by about one third every year", says Stritter. Therefore animals are captured once a year and sold to other farms in Namibia, South Africa or Angola.
Visitors are able to experience Gocheganas' abundance of game not only on the game drives, which are conducted twice a day, but also on hiking tours or by bicycle. "The rhinos are not aggressive and always keep their distance", says Stritter. "They may snort or prick their ears, but that's it". The guided hiking tours to several waterholes in the vicinity of the lodge are very popular with guests. Qualified guides provide a lot of worthwhile information on nature. But guests are also welcome to go for extended unguided walks in the vicinity of the lodge.
No doubt the Stone Age caves which were discovered in 2002 just a few kilometres away from the lodge are another highlight. Stone artefacts and shards, verifiably around 9000 years old, were found in the caves. In order to protect the area and the Stone Age artefacts the caves may only be visited with a guide. The tour takes about 2.5 hours, including the drive there and back.
But Gocheganas is not only about glorious nature but also about the experience of being pampered in the lap of nature. The perfect combination of both makes for an experience of a lifetime.
The Wellness Village consists of four thatched round houses. There are several treatment rooms with state-of-the-art equipment, a heated indoor pool under a vaulted ceiling fit for a cathedral, a granite bath (cave sauna), Kneipp showers as well as fitness, gym and yoga facilities plus an outdoor pool affording breathtaking views.
Gocheganas offers a large variety of special wellness packages and individual treatments, including facials and body treatments, de-stress and detoxification poultices as well as consultations on personal training and dietary needs. A massage al fresco may well be a highlight for wellness lovers. At a small wellness station outside in the open the massage is administered by expert hands under the watchful eyes of giraffe or wildebeest. Another unique experience to be fondly remembered.
Day visitors are also welcome to use the wellness facilities at Gocheganas. A day charge applies.
The main building of the lodges houses a restaurant with a large terrace. The international cuisine offers a choice of two three-course set menus every day.
At high altitudes, far away from the light pollution of a city, stargazing also becomes a very special experience. Gocheganas now offers the opportunity to explore Namibia's night sky under the expert guidance of astronomer Ro-bert Johnstone, head of the Space Observation Learning Centre in Namibia (SOLNA). Born in Scotland, Johnstone lived in South Africa for many years before moving to Namibia a few years ago.
The appearance of Halley's Comet in 1986 started his love for astronomy, and his extensive knowledge on space, the stars and gala-xies is self-taught. By prior arrangement Gocheganas' guests have the opportunity to watch the sky together with Johnstone. He sets up a large telescope of 120 kilograms and guests who happen to have a Canon EOS can connect the camera to the telescope for images of the highest quality. Not only see the rings of Saturn but take pictures, too! "Namibia's night sky is among the most beautiful. There are many constellations of the southern hemisphere waiting to be discovered", Johnstone says. "This is not only due to the clear, clean air but also to the absence of light pollution. Stargazing conditions are excellent at Gocheganas".
"With this new service, of exploring galaxies and stars at Gocheganas, we want to show our visitors another fascinating side of Namibia", says Udo Stritter. His eclectic mix of nature and wellness appeals to many tourists who seek tranquillity away from the cities and at the same time like to be pampered.
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